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VIII International Visible Thinking Conference 2024

JOIN US FOR ANOTHER EXCITING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

Storytelling for Influence: Children’s Multiple Voices to Transform Society

March, 8 - 9, 2024

Florida International University

Modesto Maidique Campus

RDB 1100 (the auditorium in the law building)

Miami, Florida

The International VTSF Conferences are well known for attracting renowned speakers. Don’t miss the opportunity.

Conference Philosophy

Conference Vision

Gain a deep understanding of the power of storytelling to influence others and transform society.

Mission

Bring scholars, students, and practitioners together to exchange experiences and share ideas of the multiple ways to empower children to use storytelling for voice and influence.

This event aims to explore the benefits of storytelling from a cognitive, language, and socio-emotional perspective. Storytelling is an effective, developmentally appropriate approach to address issues that affect society and the world. Through stories, we can encourage children to be critical, curious, and empathetic. Stories promote global competencies; they invite children to engage with new perspectives, learn about cultures and values; identify problems and solutions; and imagine ways to act and contribute to a better world.

Storytelling is an excellent venue to help children think globally and act locally. Oral and written stories equip children with the knowledge and skills needed for success but also cultivate a mindset that embraces continuous learning and global citizenship. Stories build bridges among people; stories make us human. Quality storytelling creates cultures of listening and telling stories. The event was crafted to offer participants ideas to engage children in critical literacy to foster storytelling for influence. Through stories, children can build a collective power to participate and have a voice to influence others to be the change they want to see.

 The event recognizes accessibility and universal design as essential components of education in today's diverse and inclusive learning environments. By incorporating multiliteracies that are universally accessible, we aim to create an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all children. Storytelling is a meaning-making cognitive and socio-emotional activity; it can be externalized through a variety of visual, oral, physical, musical, and alphabetical forms of communication. Furthermore, in the technology era, stories go beyond reading and writing to communicate, they expand to coding and digital storytelling.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Veronica Boix Mansilla, PI Harvard Project Zero USA

Senior Principal Investigator at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education, the renowned educational research institute at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an international expert on global and intercultural education. She leads the IdGlobal Many Stories Library. Her work has set the foundations for high-quality interdisciplinary, global, and intercultural education at Project Zero, OECD, Asia Society, Smithsonian Institution.
Eleni Geroulanou, Library4all Greece

She studied Early Childhood Education at the University of Athens and subsequently specialized in Children’s Museum Education for K-8 at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She was Head of the Kindergarten at the Moraitis School, and an author of several books for children and a founding member of the NGO “Library4all”. and the Hellenic Children’s Museum in Athens and a member of the Greek section of the International Board on Books for Young People
Maria Adelaida Lopez AeioTu Colombia

Plastic artist and early childhood educator. Since 2017 she has served as executive director at aeioTU, committed to leading this social enterprise that develops the potential of children to transform communities innovatively and sustainably and scale its impact in Colombia and the Region. In 2022, Maria Adelaida received the 2022 LEGO® Prize from the LEGO Foundation for her work advocating and championing learning through play
Urszula Markowska-Manista , University of Warsaw, Poland

She conducts field research on migration and education in culturally diverse environments, childhood, and youth studies in the field of children’s rights. She was director (FUBerlin 2016) and co-director (2017-2021 FH Potsdam) of the international MA Childhood Studies and Children’s Rights (MACR) program. Markowska-Manista has conducted ethnographic research on children’s rights in education in different contexts. Her work draws on inclusive and participatory approaches, ethical symmetry, and the children’s rights pedagogy of Janusz Korczak
Kiriaki Melliou, Consultant at the Directorate of Primary Education of Piraeus, Greece

She co-authored the National Curriculum (2022) authors of Early Childhood Education in Greece. She has established and now mentors a vibrant teacher community across Greece with 2000 members committed to promoting empathy and inclusion among diverse students using Harvard’s Project Zero frameworks such as “Out of Eden Learn.” Kiriaki has contributed as an expert to national and international scientific projects awarded by the Greek Ministry of Education and the Council of Europe. Her work focuses on learning and thinking strategies for competency-based education and curriculum design.
Karin Morrison, Australia

Karin, an educator and children’s rights advocate invited to establish and lead a Janusz Korczak Association in Australia, is committed to fostering deep thinking, understanding, open-mindedness, equity in learning opportunities, quality education for all and valuing differences, to enable young people to be their best selves, respected for who they are. Korczak, Reggio Emilia, and Project Zero are integral to her thinking and actions.
Angela K. Salmon, Associate Professor at FIU, Founder VTSF, USA

She has a well-earned reputation for building learning communities of practice and empowering teachers to gain ownership in their teaching. She emphasizes the teacher’s discourse in the classroom to promote thinking and learning in children, especially the quality of questions. Her research line and practice focus on the interplay between cognition, language, and literacy development in young children, which drives her to explore executive functions reflected in digital storytelling and play. Her current research is on collective stories for influence. She is a co-author of the upcoming book “Children’s Literature Aligned with SDGs to Promote Global Competencies: A Practical Resource for Early Childhood Education.”
Paola Ucelli, Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

With a background in developmental linguistics, she studies socio-cultural and individual differences in multilingual and monolingual students’ language development throughout the school years. Her research focuses on identifying which high-utility language skills and resources (at the lexical, grammatical, and discourse levels) support reading and writing in school; and on the design and evaluation of interventions that both affirm and amplify students’ voices. She conducts her research projects in partnership with other investigators and educators in schools in the U.S. and various other countries, especially in Latin America.
Evangelia Bafouni

She was, born in Greece, has served as the Director of Culture at the Municipality of Piraeus since 2009. Holding a Ph.D. in modern economic history from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, she specializes in intercultural dialogue, local history, storytelling, and the safeguarding of cultural heritage. Evangelia has presented at various international conferences, showcasing her expertise in cultural governance. With a professional journey spanning from 1985 to the present, including roles as the Director of Historical Archives, Evangelia has authored numerous impactful books and articles, significantly contributing to the study of local history and business history. Her steadfast dedication to cultural preservation underscores her ongoing valuable contributions to the field.
Rita Rosa Ruesga Multi Grammy Nominee

Book Author, Performer, and Educator Founder of Pikitin Learning Projects. Rita graduated from The National School of Arts in Havana, Cuba, having earned her degree in choir direction and music education. As a visionary creator and singer-songwriter dedicated to the world of children's music and literacy, she has garnered an impressive array of accolades, including 4 Latin Grammy nominations and the honor of clinching the International Latino Book Awards not once, but twice. In her role as a cultural manager, Rita is the founder of the International Zunzun Children's Fest, a vibrant annual celebration held in Miami Dade every year. Ruesga is the creative director of Pikitin Learning Projects, leading innovative education initiatives, and creating various programs and intellectual property that support the use of music and books at early ages.

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Workshop Facilitators

Silvia Lopez Angel

She is the founder and director of BaBidiBu Preschool in Bogota, Colombia, creating Pedagogical Impacts as the cornerstone of the curriculum. She is a Magna Cum Laude Psychologist and holds a master’s degree in education in Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood; she was appointed a Fellow of P.Z Classroom at Harvard University. In addition, she participated in the Yale University Ruler’s Program, an emotional intelligence learning approach for children. Her interest focuses on redefining the congruency and essence of education and on cultivating environments where children grow happily and acquire tools for life.
Carmen Medrano, Early Learning Coalition USA

She has been in the field of education for over 35 years. She has extensive experience as a classroom preschool, elementary, and middle school teacher. She works as an adjunct professor at Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University, and she also works at the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade /Monroe as the Early Childhood Chair of the Professional Development Institute. Her research focuses on language development with Hispanic bilingual children. She has been a member of the Visible Thinking Miami research group since its beginning.
Kenia Najera, FIU, USA

She is a Doctoral candidate at FIU. She worked as a quality specialist for early education programs in Miami-Dade County. Kenya has spent the past twenty-two years advocating for children's rights after working in the education field for two decades. As a PhD candidate, she has dedicated time to studying the benefits storytelling can have on children's language skills and identity development.
Kalliopi Nikolopoulou, 4th Public Kindergarten, Greece

She is a kindergarten teacher and the Primary Principal of the 4th Public Kindergarten of Piraeus for over 14 years. As a member of the European Schoolnet community, she has attended several seminars and has networked online with educators who share a vision of inclusive schools. Passionate about continuing professional development, Kalliopi has participated in two annual trainings facilitated by the University of Western Macedonia concerning the combination of Harvard’s Project Zero frameworks, such as “Visible Thinking” and Digital Storytelling. Since then, she has been focusing on creating a culture of thinking in her multicultural school by using storytelling strategies and the power of documentation. Kalliopi is also among the founding members of the “Out Of Eden Learn” Teachers of Greece learning community.
Trina Oropeza, IMAGO Art, USA

I earned my degree in Education focusing on Early Childhood Education from the Metropolitan University in Caracas, Venezuela. With over 30 years of experience in education, I have been extensively involved with children and adults and ventured into entrepreneurship through various social, educational, and artistic projects. In 2016, I founded IMAGO Art, LLC, driven by a strong belief in the transformative power of education and art in all its forms. Throughout my career, I've been dedicated to nurturing children's creativity through artistic, theatrical, literary, and musical programs. Two years ago, I co-founded and currently lead IMAGO x LAS ARTES (a non-profit organization) as the CEO, where I am committed to the development and execution of innovative programs that inspire a passion for art, literature, and music, captivating young minds.
Karla Staton, Bellelli Education, Costa Rica

Karla has a B.S. in Early Childhood Development (FIU) and a Master’s in Education (UF). She has worked in early childhood for more than 20 years as a teacher, researcher, vice principal, and, now as a director and entrepreneur. Karla moved to Costa Rica 11 years ago where she co-founded Bellelli Education, an organization that now operates two early childhood centers and an elementary (soon going into middle school) program.
Vasiliki Vourgana, 9th Public Kindergarten, Greece

She is a kindergarten teacher and the Principal of the 9th Public Kindergarten of Piraeus for over six years. Leading a school that usually welcomes refugees and immigrant-origin students, she has been focusing on researching and facilitating a culture of belonging and social well-being. She has taken part in several professional development courses about pedagogical strategies and tools, such as play and storytelling, which enable diverse children to communicate across differences and take action in constructing more inclusive societies. In this direction, she has recently undertaken an innovative research project inspired by Harvard’s Project Zero Re-Imagining Migration Learning Arc that provided national and international recognition to her school community.
Jiamin Xu, FIU, USA

She is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Teaching and Learning at FIU, specializing in early childhood education. Possessing a master’s degree in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), she has acquired extensive knowledge and strategies in English language teaching. Driven by a passion for enhancing early childhood education, she embarked on her Ph.D. journey. Her research interest centers around creating language learning environments that transcend mere language development, encompassing a holistic approach to learners’ overall growth and development.

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Reasons for Joining

Learn research-based cutting-edge pedagogies

VTSF is renowned for offering high-quality professional development opportunities. Our journey has been rewarding with the collaboration of World Leaders in Education.

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Program at a Glance

Body Percussion Workshop: "PAN-CON-PAN"

On Saturday, join our delightful Body Percussion Workshop designed exclusively for early childhood education! In this interactive and rhythmic experience, educators will embark on a musical journey to explore the joy of singing, dancing, and creating rhythmic beats using their bodies. Led by Rita Rosa Ruesga, a four-time Latin Grammy nominee, this workshop fosters a vibrant and inclusive environment, encouraging educators to express themselves through the magic of music and movement. Prepare for a dynamic blend of fun, music, learning, and drums!

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The Early Learning Coalition will award CEUs to participants who attend the conference and complete an assigned task (to be distributed beforehand). CEU completion is a requirement for scholarship recipients. Please take a look at the scholarship opportunities on the Registration page.